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This book investigates how liberal parties have evolved over time as a party family, in a comparative perspective. Through a discussion of the applicability of the concept of party family to liberal parties, it gives a better picture of the development, challenges and opportunities for liberal parties in Europe.
List of contents
Introduction Part I: Case studies Chapter 1: The Norwegian Left and the Finnish Centre: What, no capital ‘L’ liberal parties? Chapter 2: The Danish Liberal Parties Chapter 3: The Centre Party and the Liberals: The Swedish members of the liberal party family? Chapter 4: Liberalism in the Netherlands: The VVD and D66 Chapter 5: Belgian Liberals: Living apart together... Chapter 6: Diversity, unity, and beyond: The Swiss Liberals Chapter 7: Liberal parties in Austria Chapter 8: It’s (not only) the economy, stupid?: Past and future of the German Liberal Party Chapter 9: The UK Liberal Democrats: Liberalism at a crossroads Chapter 10: Fianna Fáil: In the Liberals but not of the Liberals Chapter 11: Nuanced liberalism: The weakness of liberal parties in Spain Chapter 12: Liberal parties in Central and Eastern Europe: Between success and failure Chapter 13: Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia Chapter 14: The Liberals in Europe: The alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Part II: Comparative perspective on liberal parties in Europe Chapter 15: Liberal parties and elections: Electoral performances and voters' profiles Chapter 16: Governmental participation and alliances of liberal parties in Europe Chapter 17: The liberal party family ideology: Distinct, but diverse Chapter 18: How liberal parties organise Liberal parties in Europe: Conclusion
About the author
Caroline Close is an Assistant Professor at SciencePo ULB, Centre d’étude de la vie politique (Cevipol), Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB). Her main research interests are party organization, intraparty politics, party ideology, legislative studies, elections, and democratic innovations.
Emilie van Haute is an Associate Professor and Chair of SciencePo ULB and conducts her research at Centre d’étude de la vie politique (Cevipol), Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB). Her main research interests include party membership, intra-party dynamics, participation, elections, and voting behaviour.
Summary
This book investigates how liberal parties have evolved over time as a party family, in a comparative perspective. Through a discussion of the applicability of the concept of party family to liberal parties, it gives a better picture of the development, challenges and opportunities for liberal parties in Europe.
Additional text
‘In a period of high party system volatility, this timely book focuses on a group of parties that includes some of Europe’s oldest electoral competitors. Its chapters present useful profiles and comparisons of meaning and endurance of party family labels.’
— Susan E. Scarrow, University of Houston
‘With detailed case studies of the history, ideology, organization, electoral performance, and governmental participation of liberal parties in 20 European countries, plus at the EU level, this volume provides a most useful resource for students of party politics. In addition, the concluding comparative chapters provide the necessary analysis to consider whether there truly is a liberal party ‘family’ and the features that unite and distinguish these parties from their competitors.’
— William Cross, Carleton University
